Learning Outcomes

* Be able to select appropriate techniques, apply them and interpret the outcomes

* Identify the broader context in which business decisions are made

* Further develop their decision making and team working skills

* Further develop their report writing and presentation skills on an individual basis

Aims

This module is a core module to the School of Management and Business N400 (Accounting and Finance)

Brief description

The module is designed to run in two parts, integrating and testing the skills and knowledge developed within the module and the degree scheme. These two parts are an interactive business game and a case study.

Interactive business game: Students are assigned into groups where they are required to act as directors running a company making regular decisions. The broad aims of the module are to consolidate technical knowledge by requiring students to make key decisions after performing appropriate analyses of detailed information about their company and its environment.

Case Study: Using high-level business analysis, applied to a topical case study for students to develop and apply their report writing and presentation skills.

Content

For the first 10 lectures all students will be taught together improving their skill set in analysis an interpretation of financial accounts and in building an integrated appreciation of risk:
- Cross-sectional analysis
- Time series analysis
- Forecasting earnings and cash flows
- Forecast accuracy
- Integrated appreciation, assessment and management of risk (business, operational, financial or reputational)

In addition all students will be given further skill sessions in report writing and presentations.

After this core lecture series finishes the cohort will split into two groups, one taking a business game element and the other a topical case study element in each semester.

Business Game:

Working in teams students take the role of directors of a company through the use of an interactive business game. As a member of the board of directors, students are responsible for the running of a company competing against other student-run companies, requiring students to make key decisions after performing appropriate analyses of detailed information about their company and its environment

As a board of directors students are required to make decisions concerning:

Staffing

Raw material costs, quality and quantities

Product prices and terms

Marketing

Research and development

Financing

Case Study:

After 2 x 2 hour small group sessions to practice presentation skills taught in the first part of the year, students will be asked to use high-level business analysis to look at a current accounting/business case study to address business situations / problems in an integrated, holistic and useful manner

For both parts students will draw on the disciplines of financial accounting, management accounting, finance and management in general, and will use statistical and economic analyses as appropriate.

A key aspect of the module is the further development of personal and inter-personal skills, including: co-ordination, delegation, leadership, motivation, listening skills, responsibility, self-motivation, persuasion, reflection, focus, analyses, prioritising, perceptiveness and communication.

Module Skills

Skills Type

Skills details

Application of Number

* Develop an easy familiarity with numerical data sources and numerical data from the annual financial statements published
* Apply numerical data to problem solving and decision making with care and accuracy
* Assess the reasonableness of and interpret numerical solutions
* Support assertions/arguments with appropriately developed and presented numerical data
* Calculate and use descriptive statistics

Communication

* Develop confidence and clarity of oral communication via group work and the assessed presentation both in a group and individual setting
* Develop clarity and focus of written communication
* Develop and use appropriate subject-specific vocabulary in oral and written communication

Improving own Learning and Performance

* Identify and distil the key issues covered by group meetings and yearly financial results
* Identify and use a range of learning resources
* Investigate benefits of small group working on self study
* Structure study to accommodate intensive learning

Information Technology

* Use a variety of electronic web- and library-based resources to review available information and retrieve pertinent information

Personal Development and Career planning

* Develop skills in financial analysis and decision making which are essential to the aspiring general manager in the real world
* Develop knowledge and skills of interpretation of financial statement other public financial information which is useful/essential in a number of different occupations.
* Identify a variety of potential career routes within the financial and professional services sector

Problem solving

* Identify the purpose of the game and what needs to be achieved
* Assess which data is pertinent to the problem
* Recognize that alternative solution/ methods might be available
* Interpret case material, describe and explain the problems, issues and their impact
* Select and apply appropriate methods for solving the problem
* Assess the reasonableness of problem solutions and interpret those solutions